Vehicle construction



Nov. 30, 1937. w. w. WOHLFARTH VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 22, 1936 INVENTOR Nov. 30, 1937.

W. W. WOHLFARTH VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION 2 sheets sheet 2 Filed June 22, 1936 FIEE E BY a v ATTORN Y.

Patented Nov. 30, 1937 UNITED .STATES .PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE CONSTRUCTION Walter W. Wohlfarth, San Francisco, Calif., as-

signor to A. Ted Ashjian and J. B. Sweet, both of Fresno, Calif.

. Application June 22, 1936, Serial No. 86,467

2 Claims. (01. 28033. 1)

This invention relates to a vehicle construcmeans is preferably provided between the draft tion, particularly to a vehicle which includes a unit H and the trailing unit l3 for the steering draft unit, a trailer unit and a fifth wheel thereof the unit by rotation of the draft unit II with between. respect to thetrailer l3. Mounted upon frame 7 It is an object of the present invention to prol2 (see Figure 3) are I beams IE. These beams 5 vide a vehicle construction including a trailer extend transversely across the frame [2 and supconnected to a draft vehicle by means taking up port a bottom plate I! in the form of an annulus. and equalizing any difference in rates in the The plate I l is fixed to the beams I6 and 'supmovement of the two units. Thus, the means of ports a plate I8, also an annulus. Plate i8 is 10 the present invention provides for adapting the rotatable on the fixed plate l1 to provide a swivel 10' rates of movement and an equalization in the connection. The two plates are secured together rates of movement of the two units. For examby inserting a member l9 through the annular ple, if the vehicle is started from astop, the initial opening in each plate and securing a plate 2| shock of starting the draft vehicle is absorbed thereon by means of bolts 22. A fifth wheel and gradually transmitted to the trailer unit. structure is thus secured. 15 The same action occurs if the draft vehicle is The connection means of the present inven suddenly slowed down, the trailer unit being pertion are mounted upon the plate l8. These inmitted to over run the draft vehicle until the clude two M shaped members 26 usually made up rates of movement equalize. of steel castings and having stub shafts 21' ex- Another object of the present invention is to tending outwardly t the s d Of the 20 provide an improved fifth wheel means for contrailer frame, the stub shafts being secured to necting a truck and trailer unit in a simple, the castings by electric welding. The stub shafts rugged manner. are placed at the mid point of each M member.

Another object of the present invention is to Depending from the stub shafts 21 are a pair of 25 provide a draft vehicle and trailer connection links 28. Stub shafts 27 provide the first shaft 25 permitting rotation of the draft unit with respect of the claim. It can be made in one piece or as to the trailer so that the vehicle can be steered stub shafts as shown, and the term first shaft is while inequalities in rates of movement of the used to cover both constructions. Each link is two are equalized and are absorbed, even though rotatably mounted upon the stub shaft and de- 30 the two units are at an angle. pends therefrom. 30

The invention includes numerous other objects Mounted upon trailer frame 2 r a P f and features of advantage, some of which, tolike brackets 3!. These brackets are secured together with the foregoing, will appear hereinafter gether by a common shaft 32 which extends wherein the present preferred form of the invenacross the trailer frame. Shaft 32 is the second 35 tion is disclosed. shaft of the claim. This term is used to cover 35 In the drawings accompanying and forming a both the stub shaft construction and the single part hereof, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing shaft construction illustrated. This shaft can be a vehicle embodying the present invention. replaced by a pair of stub shafts if desired but Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation illus- I prefer that a single shaft be used for the purtrating the means of connection of the present pose of securing a stiff construction. Each link 40 n n- 28 engages the shaft 32 and is rotatably mounted Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 thereon. of Figure In accordance with this invention, it is to be Figure 4 is a plan view, partly in section, pointed out that the links 28 depend from the 5 taken through the connection means. shaft 21 and that, as appears in Figure 5, the

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 shaft 32 passes between the legs of the M shaped 0f Figure castings 25. Thus the full load of the trailer is Figure 6 is a side elevation illustrating operaplaced upon the links 28 and this load is utilized n of the Connecting meansas the means to absorb the shock forces passing The invention is disclosed in conjunction with between the draft unit and the trailing unit dur- 50 a vehicle including a draft unit H including a ing movement of the vehicle. For example, if the frame l2. Atrailer I3 is connected to and is supdraft unit II is started up this will result in roported by the draft unit H, the connecting means tation of the links 28, possibly even to such an exbeing here na er d S S dtreme extent as that shown in Figure 6. In this In accordance with this invention, a fifth wheel position, the full weight of the trailer unit is re- 55 sisting the rotational movement of the links and is tending to force the links into that position shown in Figure 5. Thus the forward force exerted by the draft unit H is resisted in a nondestructive but very simple manner so that a simple but effective connection is provided between the two units of the vehicle.

I The links are free to swing in a direction opposite to that of Figure 6 to permit the trailer to over run the draft unit and thus absorb any sudden negative acceleration rate of the draft unit with respect to the trailer.

It is particularly pointed out that the gravity cushion is independent of the fifth wheel and functions properly, without any binding, even though the truck and trailer are not tracking each other as when the but are at an angle to truck is steered to turn the vehicle.

Icclaim: V V g 1. In combination, a vehicle, a trailing vehicle,

a fifth wheel mounted upon said vehicle and carried thereby, shaft support 'means carried by said fifth wheel and extending above said wheel,

ried thereby, shaft support means carried by said fifth wheel and extending above said wheel on opposite sides thereof, a first shaft carried by said support means, a link hinged at one end on said shaft and hanging therefrom adjacent each support means, ,a second shaft engaged with the other end of each link, and means securing said second shaft to said trailing vehicle.

WALTER W. WOHLFAR'I'HJ 20 

